Bonny Zanardi: Exhibit celebrates a visual pilgrimage

By Bonny Zanardi San Mateo County Times

Posted:
05/02/2014 11:11:54 AM PDT

Currently on view at Gallery 9 in Los Altos is "Journey," an exhibit of photographic work by Christine Arthur. The artist will be on site at the gallery during Silicon Valley Open Studios from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10 and 11.

In her photographs, Arthur has created a kind of voyage that focuses on paths, passages or experiences, inviting viewers to take part in a "visual adventure" to elevate the senses. Her works are crisp and detailed.

Arthur, who lives in Cupertino, received formal education in design, illustration and photography.

"Journey" will be on view through May 31. Gallery 9 is at 143 Main St., Los Altos. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Call 650-941-7969 or go to www.gallery9losaltos.com.

Animals

Watercolor paintings by Teresa Silvestri are presented in the show "In the Company of Animals" at the Portola Art Gallery. A reception will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. May 17.

The Belmont artist has long had a love of animals and nature. She began her study of painting in 1999 with Leona Moriarty at the Burlingame Recreation Center. At that time, she also began volunteering at the Humane Society. Pet portraiture has been a natural outgrowth of that association.

The show will continue through May 31. Portola Art Gallery is at the Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Call 650-321-0220 or go to www.portolaartgallery.com.

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Open Studios

Silvestri also is one of the artists participating in Silicon Valley Open Studios (SVOS) this month. She is joining with five additional artists at 856 Partridge Avenue, Menlo Park, for the first and second weekends. (May 3-4 and May 10-11.) Open Studios hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

There are many other locations for SVOS. Learn more at www.svos.org. Directories are available at a number of public libraries, senior centers and bookstores and at art centers such as the Peninsula Museum of Art, 1777 S. California Drive, Burlingame, and University Art, 267 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto.

Woman of the Year

Congratulations to Ruth Waters, who was named the 13th Senate District Woman of the Year for San Mateo County by state Sen. Jerry Hill. On March 16, he recognized Waters for her "deep commitment to art in our local community."

Waters, the founder and executive director of the Peninsula Museum of Art, has been a "guiding light" to the arts in San Mateo County. Over the years, she has bought success to the county through organizations including the 1870 Art Center in Belmont, ARTshare, the Peninsula Arts Council, Peninsula Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and the Peninsula Art Institute.

Spring show

The Burlingame Art Society and Coyote Point's CuriOdyssey announce the Spring Art Show, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo. Admission is free. Mention "art show" for free park admission. Contact Pat McMorrow at 650-348-5049 or email pbackdoorart@aol.com.

After 40 years

I'm sad to report that the Menlo Art League has announced that after 40 years of serving the community it is going to disband, saying farewell to the monthly meetings, demonstrations, workshops, plein air paintouts and various opportunities for exhibition.

President Beverly Balanis says, "We've had a marvelous run, but aging has caught up with us." She notes that the current board members are "all over 80 except for the treasurer," and the organization's younger members don't want the "ongoing responsibility of running the organization."

The organization's final activities include a demonstration in oils by Mark Monsarrat on May 14 and a watercolor demonstration by Jane Ferguson on June 11. Both meetings, which are open to the public, begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center at 700 Alma, Menlo Park.

Heartfelt thanks to all who have made this organization so special.

50-50

The entry deadline for the Sanchez Art Center's annual "50-50 Show" is 11 p.m. May 13. The show is open to California artists age 18 and older. Juror for the show is Jack Fischer, founder and curator of the Jack Fischer Gallery in San Francisco.

A $25 fee is required at the time of entry. An additional $75 will be due upon acceptance to cover the cost of materials and other exhibition expenses.

Accepted artists will create 50 small (6-by-6-inch) works over the course of 50 days. Each artist chooses his or her own theme; one to three mediums may be used through the 50-piece series.

Works are to be created from June 9 to July 28; the exhibition will run Aug. 22-Sept. 28. The Sanchez is at 1220-B Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica. Go to www.sanchezartcenter.org or call 650-344-1894.

Art Talk

The town of Los Altos Hills is sponsoring a free Art Talk by Charles Anselmo from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Los Altos Hills council chamber, 26379 Fremont Road.

Anselmo will speak about "Photographs of Magical Cuba." He is a fine-art photographer and veteran of 31 trips to Cuba since 2001. He will discuss images on display and will address the social context as well.

The presentation is held in conjunction with the Palo Alto Camera Club exhibit on view through Aug. 28 at Town Hall. For more information, call 650-941-7222.

Filoli workshops

Jann Pollard will present three workshops this month at Filoli. On May 23 and 24, it's "Watercolor on Rice Paper." She describes the technique as "much like batik." The fee is $225 for members, $270 for nonmembers.

On May 24, the class is "Designing Painting Compositions on Your Tablet." Students will use their own iPad or Android with the PSTouch application, concentrating on design and composition. The fee is $110 for members, $130 for nonmembers.

The third class, "Beginning to Intermediate Acrylic Painting," is presented May 27-29. Students will discover the many uses of acrylic paint. Note that this class is presented in a room on the second floor of the historic house and is accessible by stairs only. The fee is $315 for members, $380 for nonmembers.